Casket-lining



'1'". S. P INKHAM. GASKET LINING.

(No Model.)

Patented June 12, 1894.

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NITED. STATES ATENT .FFIcE.

FREDERICK S. PINKHAM, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PINKHAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MAINE.

CASKET-LINING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 521,419, dated June 12, 1894.

Application filed January 5, 1 8 94-.- Serial No. 495,814- (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK S. PINKHAM,

of Everett, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Oasket-Linings,of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to improve the construction of casket linings, whereby they may be more cheaply made, and when finished can be more easily handled and better adapted to fit the casket than those now in common use, and also whereby the short lengths of cloth taken up by the fastenings are duly compensated for. In accordance with this invention the cloth of which the lining is chiefly composed is first folded upon itself successively, then two of the adjacent folded edges are connected together at intervals by clasps such as will be described, then one of said connected folded edges is connected to the folded edge next to it at intervals by clasps placed opposite the spaces between the previous row of clasps or otherwise, and then said connected folded edge is connected to the folded edge next to it, and so on for the entire length of the strip of cloth, and thereafter the cloth is drawn out or extended lengthwise, and may be secured to a suitable backing of textile or other material. The clasps which are herein shown, and which I prefer to employ, each consists of a strip of wire of any suitable shape in cross section, preferably rectangular, bent at the middle to present a central portion, preferably V-shaped, and also bent at the ends in the opposite direction, which when pressed toward the adjacent sides of the V-shapcd portion form clamps which engage the folded edges of the cloth, and permanently hold it folded. This clasp when connected to the folded edges of the cloth incident to smocking it, permanently holds said folded edges separated a distance equal to the distance between the clamps upon the ends of the clasps, without tendency to contract, and if said distance is equal to the short lengths of cloth taken up bythe clamps upon the ends of the clasps, then the gain will just equal the loss, but if said clasps are differently proportioned a correspondingly different result will be obtained, and furthermore when said clasps are distributed at regular intervals over the entire rear side of the cloth, or substantially so, the said cloth will be equally weighted, thereby permitting it to be more easily handled, as well as better adapted to fit the casket, and retain its position therein while being fitted thereto. Yet my invention comprehends any other form of fastening adapted to connect thefolded edges of the cloth, and permanently hold them separated for a short distance, or permitting them to be so separated. 1

Figure 1, shows an under side view of a portion of a casket lining embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a cross section of the lining shown in Fig. 1,taken on the dotted line a;=w, and Fig. 3, an enlarged view of the clasp herein employed.

The strip of cloth a, is herein shown as successively folded upon itself, then two of the folded edges as 2, 3, are connected together at intervals by clasps 4, then one of said connected folded edges as 3, is connected to the folded edge 5, next to it, by similar clasps 4, which are located opposite the spaces between the clasps connecting the folded edges 2, 3, then this last operation is repeated throughout the entire length of the cloth.

The clasps at, herein shown, see Fig. 3, each consists of a strip of wire bent at the'middle to present a centralV-shaped portion 0, and also bent near each end in opposite directions, the overturned ends 0' co-operating with the adjacent sides of the V-shaped portion 0, to forms hooks or clamps which are adapted to engage two adjacent folded edges as 2, 3, 0r 3, 5,and so on. The cloth having its folded edges connected together is drawn out lengthwise, and a backing of any suitable material is connected to it. Instead ofdistributing the clasps regularly over the entire rear surface of the cloth they may be arranged in different designs for difierent linings. By employing metallic clasps, whether of the form shown in Fig. 3, or otherwise, for connecting the folded edges of the cloth, it will be understood that the cloth is given an additional and well distributed weight, which permits it to be more easily handled, and better adapt ing it to fit the casket and also facilitates attaching the lining to the casket, and furthermore when clasps such as shown in Fig. 3, are employed, and the cloth extended lengthwise 5 or drawn out, the connected folded edges are held separated fora short distance. Furthermore by employing clasps of the form shown wherein the distance between the clamps is equal to the length of the clamps, then in IQ such case the gain will equal the loss, which is a result that cannot be obtained when the folded edges arebroughtintoandpermanently held in contact; and if the clasps are differently proportioned a correspondingly dilfer- I5 ent result will be obtained, which would result in a saving of the cloth.

So far as connecting the folded edges together, yet separated for a short distance is concerned, I do not desire to limit my inven- 20 tion to the particular fastening employed.

I claim-- 1. A casket lining composed essentially of a strip of cloth folded upon itself, the folded edges being connected together by metallic clasps to give additional and well distributed 25 weight thereto, substantially as described.

2. A casket lining composed essentially of a strip of cloth folded upon itself, and motallic clasps each consisting of two connected clamps, which nip the folded edges, and per- 30 manently hold them connected together, but separated for a short distance, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 3 5 two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK S. PINKIIAM.

Witnesses:

B. J. NOYES, O. B. ORooKER. 

